ChAmber Blog

Winning the Chamber’s #ShopARL social media contest last month was an honor and a thrill: I’m really looking forward to attending complimentary Business After Business events all year!

But for me, winning was also easy. For starters, as a small business owner myself and as founder of new Chamber member Awesome Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), I’ve always been a strong supporter of “Shop Local” campaigns. Supporting local businesses keeps our spending dollars in our own community, supporting local jobs and strengthening and growing businesses.

The presidential inauguration always draws immense crowds trying to witness the swearing in of our next President. The crowds can cause great strain on the region’s transportation networks, especially the Metrorail system and buses.

The Community Action Committee (CAC) is the Arlington Chamber’s forum for its nonprofits member and business members who support nonprofits to meet and discuss common issues and goals. One ongoing issue is how nonprofits can attract and engage for-profit Chamber members for contributions, volunteer time, and other needs. In this article, the three of us – all of whom are Chamber members working in the for-profit sector – will tell you about our interaction with the Chamber’s non-profit community.

Business leaders from Medici to Bloomberg have understood that the arts play an important role in economic development. The arts create jobs, boost tourism, promote consumer spending, and generate “buzz.”

An arts-rich community has higher social engagement and lower crime rates.Arts and culture enhance our quality of life, build bridges between cultures and foster deeper understanding across racial and ethnic lines. A vibrant arts community attracts new business and new residents.